Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)

Billionaire Denis O'Brien, who was found by a tribunal to have given corrupt payments to Michael Lowry, has a new problem with the rights for ordinary Irish workers. Speaking at a recent event, O'Brien described working from home as a load of nonsense and part of an entitlement culture that has totally destroyed our work ethic and compromised productivity. I will park the irony of a man who was awarded a mobile phone licence after he made secret payments of €500,000 to a Minister decrying an entitlement culture, and instead focus on how he is completely factually wrong. Ireland is one of the most productive countries in the world. The right to work from home has helped to increase our labour force, removing barriers for people who have disabilities, lone parents and others. What is nonsense is the fact that the right to work from home in this country is so weak. Employers need only consider a request. There is no obligation to provide for the right. Perhaps if it were stronger O'Brien himself would not have had to have become a tax exile in Malta.

See this speech in context